Journal article
An Online Calculator to Estimate the Impact of Changes in Breastfeeding Rates on Population Health and Costs
Breastfeeding medicine, Vol.12(10), pp.645-658
12/01/2017
DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2017.0083
PMID: 28906133
Abstract
Objective:
We sought to determine the impact of changes in breastfeeding rates on population health.
Materials and Methods:
We used a Monte Carlo simulation model to estimate the population-level changes in disease burden associated with marginal changes in rates of any breastfeeding at each month from birth to 12 months of life, and in rates of exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months of life. We used these marginal estimates to construct an interactive online calculator (available at
www.usbreastfeeding.org/saving-calc
). The Institutional Review Board of the Cambridge Health Alliance exempted the study.
Results:
Using our interactive online calculator, we found that a 5% point increase in breastfeeding rates was associated with statistically significant differences in child infectious morbidity for the U.S. population, including otitis media (101,952 cases, 95% confidence interval [CI] 77,929–131,894 cases) and gastrointestinal infection (236,073 cases, 95% CI 190,643–290,278 cases). Associated medical cost differences were $31,784,763 (95% CI $24,295,235–$41,119,548) for otitis media and $12,588,848 ($10,166,203–$15,479,352) for gastrointestinal infection. The state-level impact of attaining Healthy People 2020 goals varied by population size and current breastfeeding rates.
Conclusion:
Modest increases in breastfeeding rates substantially impact healthcare costs in the first year of life.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- An Online Calculator to Estimate the Impact of Changes in Breastfeeding Rates on Population Health and Costs
- Creators
- Alison M. Stuebe - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBriana J. Jegier - D'Youville CollegeEleanor Bimla Schwarz - University of California, DavisBrittany D. Green - University of CincinnatiArnold G. Reinhold - 6 Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, Boston, Massachusetts.Tarah T. Colaizy - University of IowaDebra L. Bogen - University of PittsburghAndrew J. Schaefer - Rice UniversityJamus T. JegierNoah S. Green - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMelissa C. Bartick - Cambridge Health Alliance
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Breastfeeding medicine, Vol.12(10), pp.645-658
- DOI
- 10.1089/bfm.2017.0083
- PMID
- 28906133
- NLM abbreviation
- Breastfeed Med
- ISSN
- 1556-8253
- eISSN
- 1556-8342
- Publisher
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
- Comment
- Test development: Breastfeeding savings calculator
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2017
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Neonatology
- Record Identifier
- 9984353939502771
Metrics
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